Mode of coating type-metal with brass



UNITED STATES PATENT Flues. V

JOSEPH OORDUAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

MODE OF COATING TYPE-METAL WITH BRASS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent, No. 29,144, dated July 17, 1860.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosEPH OORDUAN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, metal plater, have discovered a new and useful solution or process by which the faces of types made of the compound metal ordinarily known as ty pe-metal maybe coat- .ed or plated with brass by galvanic or electromagnetic deposition better and more effectually than by any other solutions or processes heretofore known; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of my said discovery and improvement and of the manner of using the same,' without drawings, the nature of my said improvement not admitting of illustration by drawings.

I am aware that solutions and processes for coating iron and other simple metals with brass by electro magnetic deposition have been known and used, though, I believe, with imperfect and unsatisfactory results; but I have satisfied myself by experiment that the processes known and used for coating iron and other simple metals will not answer for plating brass upon type-metal so as to be useful or valuable.

I am also aware that there have been Letters Patent of the United States granted to S. V. Martin, bearing date August 20, 1850, for plating or coating the surface of metallic printing-types with a metal more durable than the type itself by means of galvanic electricity.

I am also aware of the rejected application of Charles \V. Birch, of Boston, for a patent for an improvement in facing printers type with brass.

I have ascertained by experiment that the solutions and processes described in the cases to which reference is made will not answer for facing the type with a elear,stnooth,hard, and durable coating of brass, such as is required for rendering the brass coating of any great value to the type.

My invention consists in the nature of the solution forming part of the electrical circuit, in preparing which the ingredients and the manner of preparing them and mixing them together in solution are to a considerable extent difierent from any process heretofore known, and produce the effect of a more complete suspension or equilibrium in the solution of the metals which are to form the compound of brass, and thereby new and improved results in a more perfect, smooth, and hard deposition upon the type.

I prepare the solution in the following manner when it is intended to coat the type with brass: Make a saturated solution of blue vitriol and water. Pour into this solution of vitriol and water caustic potash dissolved in water, which will precipitate a brown dark powder, known as black oxide of copper] Wash this well and evaporate to dryness. Into a solution of cyanide of potassium and water stir as much of this black oxide of copper as it will dissolve. Use no heat. Place another vessel containing a solution of cyanide of potassium and water upon a heated sand bath until it boils. Then stir in as much white oxide ofzinc as the solution will hold. By mixing these two solutions together a solution is produced capable, when used as part of the electrical circuit and in connection with a vat or node of brass, of reducing and depositing the composition known as brass upon all metals and alloys.

The articlesto be coated must be well brushed in a solution of cyanide of potassium and water, which will remove all grease and any other substance foreign to the metal. In making this solution the hardness or softness of the brass deposited can be regulated by using in excess either one or the other solutions, excess of zinc solution making it hard, excess of copper solution making it soft, the color of the deposit inclining to the color of the metal to which it is in excess. I prefer to use brass vats in which to hold the compound solution. Having them made of this alloy saves the use of a node, the vat itself acting in that capacity. I use electromagnetism as a depositing agent.

In subjecting types to the operation of bein g eleetrotyped or plated with brass I place masses of them together in a suitable frame, or fasten them together in bundles by wires. The letter faces should all be upon the same plane-21 6., with a perfectly-even surface. The faces only are to be immersed in the solution. The wire which is connected with the type or stereotypeplate to be operated upon must be attached at the other end to the zinc or negative pole of the battery. The positive or plati num pole is connected by a wire with the brass vat, it used, or with a brass plate.

In the composition of the solution above described I have given the parts and proportions which I believe to be the best for the purpose. The proportions and parts may be varied somewhat with a similar result, though with less perfect and satisfactory effects.

I do not mean to confine my discovery and claim to the precise parts and proportions described, but I give the above as the best and most efficient.

I do not claim, it will be seen by the foregoing, as my invention or discovery the plating or coating of types such as are ordinarily used by printers with a harder metal than that of which the types are composed; neither do I claim the plating or coating types with a compound of brass; but

What I do claim as my invention and discovery is-- JOSEPH CORDUAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. Fox, RICHARD WINNE. 

